Transgender inmates must be allowed make-up, says review

Transgender prisoners must have access to make-up, a report has ruled.

Inspectors from the Independent Monitoring Board said that the 12 transgender inmates at HMP Littlehey in Cambridgeshire, had been unable to fully “live in gender” as they could not buy cosmetics such as lipstick, mascara and blusher from the Avon catalogue. The IMB report stated: “The Board is very disappointed that there remains an issue with the Avon catalogue.”

A previous report into the jail revealed how the equalities governor had introduced “pop-up shops” to allow transgender inmates to buy female clothing, such as skirts, bras and dresses, while in prison.